Hi friends, long time no talk! As I sit here in my cozy home with a hot coffee complete with pumpkin spice creamer, I felt the need to update my friends on all things… More
mucinex
Sickness has struck the Shugart household.
Well, mostly it has struck me. Will had a cute little cough and then was over and done with it. I, on the other hand, self-diagnosed from the first spike of fever that a sinus infection had taken me down, post-migraine.
I write to you now from the comfort of my bonus room couch, with my steaming mug of chamomile tea and my chick flicks and Grey’s Anatomy on repeat, having missed publishing my first Monday blog post since launching Wamie’s World last July. And while I have no photos to share today, from a typically photography focused blog, I feel that sharing using the written word can just as powerfully convey the clouded vision of a sickly blogger.
I was conveniently taken down by a virus passed on by my loving family on the busiest work week I have seen since the Christmas holiday family photo session explosion of 2018. I curled up in an armchair for two days straight, editing my days away while clutching my box of tissues. I spent the nights clutching my eyeballs for fear they might pop out of my head due to the pressure building up behind them. And I coughed my way through work, popping cough drops like they were candy and huddling in my corner so as not to breathe on anyone.
Conveniently, all of the websites say that you might have a sinus infection if your symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
As a woman who has had far more than her fair share of sinus infections in her life, I would have to disagree with whomever invented them. More than two weeks is far too long to put up with this nonsense. Can I please just return to my normal programming?
Should you be happy and healthy today, enjoying the full use of your vocal cords, please appreciate your pressure free sinuses, your vertigo free days, and how little you require tissues on a minute by minute basis. I will be here, attempting to live a normal life while contemplating removing my sinuses from my body.
Until next time,
Jamie out.
13 things to do unplugged with your spouse
Is your love language quality time? Is your spouse’s love language quality time? Do you hate how much time we spend staring at our phones instead of being present with one another and fully invested in the moment? Friend, I am here for you!
But first thing’s first—if you want to follow along with our adventures of newlywed life, turning a house into a home, and all of the highs and lows of everyday life, click the subscribe button on the right (or at the bottom if you’re on mobile). It doesn’t send you crazy stuff or give your information to anyone—it just sends blog updates directly to you!
Friend, today I have 13 fun and unique things to do together with your spouse that do not involve social media, computers, or screen time of any kind. Put those phones away and stare into each others eyeballs for a sec, okay?
Let’s get started.
#1. Make something together. Whether you just picked up a new piece of furniture that has much assembly required or you want to repaint a dresser you picked up at a garage sale, get to work together!
#2. Have a picnic in your backyard. Spring is springing, the grass is greening, and the sun is shining. Break out your biggest floppy hat, spread a quilt on the driest patch of grass you can find, and have no fear of drinking wine outdoors. It’s your private property, after all! And no one has to drive! Don’t forget the sunscreen, though. Winter has left you pale and vulnerable.
#3. Break out the instruments and have your own concert. Will and I play piano, guitar, and all manner of brass instruments. I love having worship nights together. Print those chord charts or piano music ahead of time and put those phones away. This is time for just you two.
#4. Bake something! Make banana bread, cheesecake, or all manner of unhealthy treats. You can share them with friends, or be greedy and enjoy the whole thing together. Bonus points if you enjoy the fruits of you labor by candlelight.
#5. Prayer time. Write a list of prayer requests and pray over them together. Pray over your marriage, your spouse, your family, your house, your dog, your cat, your jobs, etc.
#6. Create a vision board for your marriage. This is about your vision, your goals, your mission statement, and your desires that you create together for your marriage. Like I desire regular date nights with each other, no matter what season of life we are in. Side note: if you are NOT crafty—like me—you can just create a fancy list or excel spreadsheet. It’s basically the same, right?
#7. Go on a leisurely walk (don’t forget to bring the dog). Whether around your neighborhood or a nice nearby park, pick a sunny day and take a long walk together. If you’re on the east coast, don’t forget that bug spray. The mosquitoes are coming!
#8. Have a double date and go try a new local restaurant or ask your friends where their favorite place in town is. Don’t forget to splurge on dessert. It’s the little things.
#9. Have a bonfire, roast s’mores, and tell ghost stories. Bonus points if you camp out in the backyard afterwards.
#10. Game night! Whether you play Nertz, Monopoly (not suggested for sensitive/competitive souls such as myself), or some crazy deck building game, make sure there’s a prize for the winner.
#11. Couples who work out together stay together. If you’re both active, create a workout plan that combines both of your favorite moves and techniques that you can do at home. You could go on a run, or complete a squat and pushups pyramid challenge. Will and I enjoy showing off our best ab moves to each other.
#12. Go out to the ball game. Eat a hot dog and cheer on your local team. Make sure to dress in team colors but watch out for the kiss cam.
#13. Have a coffee date on your front porch. Watch the world go by and just enjoy the moment with each other.
The world is so busy and fast! We sometimes forget to just slow the heck down and enjoy the little things. Even if you literally need to schedule a block of time to be with each other and enjoy each other, DO IT. It is so very important.
Do you have any ideas that I didn’t mention? Leave them in the comments below! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and don’t forget to join the family and subscribe if you haven’t already.
Until next time,
Jamie out
#everydaymoments
Are you living in your everyday, or are you living for the weekends?
It is our daily lives that make up who we are, and our everyday moments that make this life worth living. Find the beauty in your ordinary. Take some photos and build some memories. We remember the big things, but the little things are everything.
A Thursday in February. Valentine’s Day//
Until next time,
Jamie out.
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December
our day date to a super old house
About a week or so ago, Will took me on a fantastic day date to a place I had been dying to visit. I’m a sucker for dates and romance. This one just tugged at my heart strings and was a perfect morning spent reflecting on history, how people used to live, and the things we take for granted now. Like freezers, freedom, and air conditioning in the south.
The 1897 Poe House is located near downtown Fayetteville. No, it was not owned by the poet, but by a prominent family that made and sold bricks. In fact, much of the foundation of this home is made out of bricks made by Mr. Poe, although the deeds to everything they owned, including the company were in his wife’s name, per the prenup.
The Poe’s apparently ordered this home out of a Sears catalog, which was not uncommon. Everything was sent to a local carpenter who built it for them.
We got to tour pretty much everything in the home and our tour guide explained how North Carolina had obtained the property, how much it cost to restore it, and what things the Poe’s daughter had renovated and converted from what it was originally. It was interesting to see how a well off family lived, with their ice box, grocers delivering goods, cook and maids, and two stair cases.
I’m super into this dating thing. If you couldn’t tell.
Until next time,
Jamie out
WamiesWorld 